| What to do When You Decide to Sell Your Home |
- Interview a different agency unless you know the one you want. It’s wise to interview 2 agents or agencies, that way you know you made the right decision.
- Ask for a CMA (Competitive Market Analysis) to determine value. Some might tell you it’s worth more just to get the listing. You’ll know which agent is the closest to the real value from other homes that have sold in the area.
- Ask for a marketing plan- Find out how long they think it will take to sell it. Where do they advertise? Do they have a web page? Open Houses? Newspaper advertising?
- Find out how many homes they have sold within the past year - both the agent and the agency.
- Ask how long homes are usually on the market. If your home is priced right and is in good condition, it should sell in the first 60 days. Otherwise you need to fix up, lower the price and ask what the comments have been.
- Find out how many homes are on the market and how many have sold this year on the MLS.
- Find out what you should do if someone knocks on your door… should you show it? The answer is "no". Call your Realtor! You don’t know if they are casing your home.
- Ask what the current interest rates are so you will then know how active the real estate market is.
- Check over the information sheet that they turn into the MLS so that you know the right information is being dispensed on your home.
- Allow pictures to be taken of your house, and placed on the internet for advertising. We have sold homes just from the pictures we have put on the internet.
- Ask to see a sample of the handout sheet they give to the public.
- Ask if they have their own buyers guide of homes. (they should have brought one to you if they have one.)
- Tell your Realtor what you like best about your home so they can use it in their advertising.
- Fill out the Property Condition Report as honest as you can be… DO NOT GUESS an answer. If you don’t know mark it as such.
- Be sure and tell the Realtor if you are keeping a light fixture, plant, window, shelf etc. so it can be reserved on the listing agreement.
- It’s good to allow the Realtor to place a lockbox on your home so it will make it easier to show while you are at work etc. The easier you make your home to show the faster it will sell.
- Let your Realtor know when your home is shown so they can check with the agent that showed it to see what they thought of it. Your Realtor should get back to you every time its shown and keep you up on the progress, whether by email, phone or letter. Tell your Realtor how often you think they should contact you so there are no misunderstandings.
Pick a Realtor with a good company that has integrity, is well respected, is trustworthy, and does the most business. Pick someone that is looking out for your best interests! |
